Niamey: The UN refugee body said that on Friday it has evacuated 172 Nigeren asylum seekers from Libya, in the first repatriation flight to Niger from the country for more than a year.
“Many of them have been previously evacuated have been detained in very terrible conditions, are victims of trade or experience violence in Libya,” said High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) in a statement.
“The group includes families, children traveling alone, and babies born just a few weeks ago.” Libya fell into chaos and conflict after the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, became a crossroads for South Sahara Migrants who were desperate to reach Europe.
Many migrants have been detained there, some of them are condemned as suspension by rights supervisors.
In October, Libyan authorities raised a blanket ban on evacuation flights.
“UNHCR is relieved to see the return of evacuation flights that save this life,” said the head of the agency mission in Libya, Jean-Paul Cavalieri.
“However, given the number of limited places, evacuation can only be a solution for very vulnerable people, in the need for urgent security and protection.” Another flight because the removal of the ban has brought 127 Gambia and 91 Nigerens, which are repatriated through international organizations for migration.